# Truckers: what's the straight dope about this warning decal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2023, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973 "2023-04-01T08:25:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/21 "2023-04-01T18:33:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Skywatcher was responding to Bob\_2 who said it doesn’t happen. There are two “its” here. One is whether the clearance changes due to resurfacing. The other is whether those new clearances are not noted. The former is not what I or I believe @bob_2 is disputing. The latter is. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/22 "2023-04-01T19:15:14Z")
[Here’s a report about a bridge clearance sign in Scotland that was off by a foot.](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12123306.concern-over-low-bridge-signing-errors/) No mention of what caused the discrepancy, though. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/23 "2023-04-01T19:30:40Z")
Yeah, and that nearly 30 year old story demonstrates why departments of transportation make sure that bridges are marked properly. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/24 "2023-04-01T21:38:02Z")
Intermodal containers also come in [two heights](https://www.falconstructures.com/shipping-container-dimensions), regular (8’6") and high cube (9’6") exterior. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/25 "2023-04-01T21:44:00Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > When they say “Do not load this 14ft high trailer if going into red states” what they mean is “If you’re going into a red state, don’t use this 14ft high trailer, it’s too tall, use a 13.5ft high trailer”. > > ETA, > Not that it really matters since it’s mostly just for them, but the wording could have been a bit better. That’s what i was thinking. Who cares whether you load it? You don’t want to drive those 14’ trucks empty through the red states, either. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/26 "2023-04-01T22:34:25Z")
Here’s what the sign really means. Remember it’s aimed at very literal minded low end workers: > If somebody backs this empty trailer up to your loading dock, and you’re about to fill it with cargo bound for a red = east state, STOP. Do NOT put anything in the trailer. Instead call your boss right now. IOW, somebody else somewhere f\*\*\*ed up putting this trailer on a route for red-state bound cargo. Don’t compound the the error by loading it; you’re only going to have to empty it again an hour from now. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/27 "2023-04-02T02:00:18Z")
Thanks. That makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/28 "2023-04-02T03:49:08Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > but re-paving the road without tearing out the old asphalt/concrete means the bridge might be (or more) inches closer to the ground now. I live West of St. Louis and a few years ago they repaved a section of I-70. A few weeks later they were grinding off the new paving because they discovered the clearance under one or the bridges was too low. They ground down about 8" for about a quarter mile and then repaved to meet the standard clearance. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/29 "2023-04-02T11:29:38Z")
If I was to guess that’d be the railroad bridge over I-70 in Wentzville? ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/30 "2023-04-02T14:53:51Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > There are two “its” here. > > One is whether the clearance changes due to resurfacing. > > The other is whether those new clearances are not noted. > > The former is not what I or I believe @bob_2 is disputing. The latter is. Not just bridges. We had a computer outage once upon a time at work. Turns out the fibre optic line crossed a gravel road coming off the main road. It seems every so often they added new gravel - until one day someone took a bigger truck up that road and snagged the cable. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/31 "2023-04-02T16:49:38Z")
There’s a low bridge in my area that had electrical conduit running under it (along the ceiling) that had to be relocated to get the extra couple inches of clearance so trucks wouldn’t hit it. Didn’t help, the trucks still have to about about a half mile out of the way to get to and from the warehouses back there. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/32 "2023-04-02T19:53:37Z")
Nope, it’s further west where Strack’s Church passes over I-70 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973/33 "2023-05-25T07:28:18Z")
You can put up signs and flashing lights, but there will always be those drivers who take no notice: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT\_tfdw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truckers-whats-the-straight-dope-about-this-warning-decal/981973.md?page=1)